Netlaw Media Code of Conduct
To ensure the success of all Legal events, initiatives and activities, all participants including delegates, suppliers, clients, staff, and sponsors must be able to work in a safe environment. Legal Event Organisers (LEOs) are committed to ensuring that disrespectful, discriminatory, inappropriate, or unprofessional behaviour or harassment of any kind including at any event is prevented. Such behaviour will not be tolerated, and participants will be asked to stop any harassing behaviour and are expected to comply immediately. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal or dismissal and in severe cases may result in rejection of participation in the future.
Unacceptable behaviour
Harassment includes; offensive verbal comments related to (but not limited) gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices, sexual images in public spaces, deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording, sustained disruption of talks or other events, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome sexual attention, and encouragement of any of the above behaviours.
Social Media and Communications
LEOs have an expected standard of communication in which any persons’ representing the company are expected to adhere. LEOs expect all representatives, including staff and contractors to communicate with respect, and ensure that any exchange between internal and external parties (including delegates, suppliers, and sponsors) does not breach the Code of Conduct.
Unacceptable non-verbal (via email, telephone, or other means of online communications) and verbal, (direct or indirect) communication, will not be tolerated including but not limited; foul, offensive, insulting or abusive language, any behaviour that is likely to intimidate, offend, insult, humiliate or discriminate against any other Person on the grounds of their religion, race, sexual orientation, colour or national or ethnic origin.
Staff should not engage in public criticism (whether via social media or social networking sites or otherwise) of any delegate, sponsor, client, competitor, or any other person which might be offensive, inappropriate, intimidating or insulting.
Staff should comply with the Code of Conduct in respect of Social Media and any Communications that brings, or has the potential to bring, LEOs into disrepute.
Events
LEOs events are known for delivering an opportunity for the legal community to network, and share thought-leadership, best practice advice, support and build collaborative partnerships with commercial vendors and peers. Networking is a core objective of all events (face-to-face and virtual), and this can only be achieved in a safe, welcoming, and respectful atmosphere.
All involved in delivering a LEOs event, from staff to speakers including chairpersons, moderators, to contractors and third-party suppliers including volunteers, are expected to conduct themselves in the highest possible standard including professional behaviour, engagement, and interaction. LEOs in partnership with event venues, is responsible for ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all participants, staff, and exhibitors at its events. To meet this responsibility, we have developed this Code of Conduct in which all groups are expected to follow.
All staff, attendees, speakers, sponsors, clients, contractors, and volunteers of any LEOs (Organisers) events are required to agree with the Code of Conduct. As the Organisers, they will enforce this code throughout all events, initiatives, and activities (including face-to-face and virtual activities). We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everybody.
Participants asked to stop any harassing behaviour are expected to comply immediately.
All sponsors and /or exhibitors of the event are also subject to the anti-harassment policy. Sponsors and /or exhibitors should not use sexualised images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualised clothing/uniforms/costumes, or otherwise create a sexualised environment.
If a participant engages in harassing behaviour, the organisers may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the conference with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact a member of LEOs immediately. LEOs staff can be identified onsite at events as they’ll be wearing badges and can be located at the LEOs stand or at the reception of the venue.
LEOs will be happy to help participants contact hotel/venue security or local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the event. We value your attendance.
We expect participants to follow these rules at conference and workshop venues and conference-related social events. Please be aware that access will not be granted without 1) confirmed registration, 2) acceptance of the Code of Conduct.
Staff
LEOs staff are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct and failure to do so is a breach of employment contract and will normally result in disciplinary action. Severe cases may be classed as gross misconduct and may have grounds to justify dismissal for a first offence, and without notice.
LEOs Code Commitment
To reinforce our commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment, LEOs, has established an initiative aimed at addressing and mitigating unacceptable behaviour at both professional and social activities across leading national / international legal industry events.
This initiative, launched by esteemed industry leaders, represents a collective effort to create a safer and more ethical event community. The group will work in unison to promptly tackle reports of misconduct and will serve as a supportive advisory body to address complaints. By doing so, they aim to ensure that all participants feel secure and respected.
This message underscores the critical importance of individual responsibility for one’s behaviour, emphasizing that every attendee has a role to play in maintaining the integrity and professionalism of our industry events. Through this initiative, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of conduct and fostering a culture of mutual respect and accountability across all legal events.
Making a complaint
Breaches of this code will be processed by each event organiser through the collective and / or individual event Complaints can be made in person onsite at an event or via complaints@netlawmedia.com.
We take our responsibility seriously and commit to following up all complaints and dealing with violations of the Code of Conduct in a professional and clear manner.
All complaints will be escalated to the relevant Line Manager, including a reference to the details of the breach. This should be done as soon as possible after a complaint has been received. The relevant manager will decide whether the complaint requires further action including escalation to Advisory Boards.
Depending upon the severity of the complaint, we reserve the right to escalate to the Collective LEOs to find a suitable resolution to safeguard future events.
Complaints process
Upon receiving a compliant we will review the matter, to determine if the Code of Conduct has been breached, and what, if any, should be the consequences of the violation. Where the names of the complainant and accused offender are given, both parties will be informed of the process and any findings and decisions at the end of it.
All complaints will be assumed to have been made in good faith, irrespective of whether they have been raised anonymously, or in person. Anonymous complaints will be considered and kept on file, but by their nature we may not be able to investigate them or provide an official response. Where a complaint is found to have been made maliciously, it will be dismissed.
You will receive confirmation of receipt of your complaint within 72 hours.